WEST ORANGE, N.J. — Mamadou Diarra is carrying himself with a lot of confidence. His college decision is behind him, and everything he is doing is with an eye toward the day he arrives on the UConn campus to stay.

"I'm way more relaxed," said Diarra, the 6-foot-8 forward who committed to UConn on May 22. "I'm just doing the things I have to do until I get to UConn."

Diarra seized a chance to have some fun Saturday, and to give something back at the Mary Kline Classic, an annual event that raises money for cancer research. In a game without a lot of defense, Diarra showed his ability to run the floor and finish, scoring 20 points, nearly all of them on dunks, as his team prevailed 139-132 in the underclassmen game, which featured top recruits from the Northeast .

"I had a lot of fun out there," he said. "This is a great event, and I liked it a lot. You go up against great players and all these people watching for a cause. God has blessed me with my talent, why not use it for something like this? There are a lot of people with cancer out there, and events like this are really important. They raise a lot of money, and a lot of people benefit from it."

Diarra and the other players listened intently as cancer patients and survivors told their stories. He has played the past two seasons at Putnam Science Academy, which has now closed. Next season, he will be playing as a post-grad at Woodstock Academy. This summer, he will be playing AAU ball with the New York Jayhawks, all chances to improve his strength and skills. He has been in frequent contact with coach Kevin Ollie.

WOODSTOCK — Mamadou Diarra was outside the school library Friday morning, making the final phone call of his recruiting process. It was to tell the coaches at Virginia Commonwealth where he would be going in 2016.

Then Diarra walked in, sat down behind the microphone and donned a UConn ball cap,...

(DOM AMORE)

It helped on Saturday to be playing with Hamidou Diallo, who is also from New York and is moving from Putnam Science to Woodstock. Diallo, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, scored 13, hitting a couple of threes and scoring on the fastbreak. UConn is also interested in him.

Diallo, a year younger, plans to play at Woodstock for two seasons and be part of the Class of 2017 recruiting class, but he has the option of reclassifying to 2016.

"We're tight, like brothers," Diarra said. "I hope he comes to UConn, but it's his decision, and it's a big decision."

Enoch Arriving Soon

Mamadou Diarra Chooses UConn Huskies

Woodstock Academy student-athlete and big man Mamadou Diarra commits to play basketball for the UConn Huskies this fall.

Woodstock Academy student-athlete and big man Mamadou Diarra commits to play basketball for the UConn Huskies this fall.

Steven Enoch, Class of 2015, has signed with UConn and has been on campus a lot, bonding and playing in the training facility with his new teammates. At 6 feet 10, he continues to gain upper body strength — he's already bulkier than the typical incoming UConn big man. Ollie said recently that Enoch looks better every time he sees him,

"I'm getting in better shape, and I'm working hard," said Enoch, who began at Norwalk High, then played this past season at St. Thomas More.

Enoch, who played in the senior game later Saturday night, has been following closely as the Huskies have had several recruiting successes, bringing in transfers Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs, who are eligible immediately, and Terry Larrier, who will have to sit out next season.

"It's interesting to see how everything is going to play out," he said. "We have some great players coming in."

The depth that the Huskies will have should benefit Enoch, with the opportunity to go against top talent every day. That was a big factor in his progress at St. Thomas More.

Expectations will be high for the Huskies in 2015-16.

"I just worry about myself and my teammates, rather than what people say," he said. "I'm trying to be the best 'me' I can be."

Recruiting Notes

Jalen Adams, originally scheduled to play in the senior game, did not make it to West Orange. Like Enoch, he will be starting at UConn next month. … Bruce Brown, a shooting guard from Vermont Academy, says that UConn is still in the picture, but only "a little bit." Brown, who attended the Huskies' game against Southern Methodist last March, has a host of offers, including SMU. … Jordan Tucker, a 6-foot-7 wing from White Plains, N.Y., says that UConn is one of the schools he is seriously considering. He plans to visit several schools, including UConn, in August. Trevon Duval, a 6-2 point guard from Wilmington, Del., also Class of '17, said that UConn is in contention.